My statement on Yale University degree misconstrued: HRD minister Smriti Irani

New Delhi: After stoking a fresh controversy over her educational qualifications, HRD Minister Smriti Irani on Monday said her statement regarding her participation at Yale university's leadership program has been "misconstrued".

"Unfortunate that statement re my participation in a leadership programme and certificate thereafter was misconstrued," she tweeted.

The HRD Minister had triggered a fresh controversy with her assertion that she also has a "degree" from the prestigious Yale University in the US.

"In that kitty of mine where people call me 'anpad'(illiterate) I do have a degree from Yale University as well which I can bring out and show how Yale celebrated my leadership capacities," she said at the India Today Woman Summit here last Saturday.

In a clarification last night, an official spokesperson of the Human Resources Development (HRD) Ministry said that Irani got a "certificate" for her participation in a Yale University program.

After she became a minister in May, Irani was at the centre of a controversy over her educational qualifications after it emerged that she had made contradictory declarations when she contested the Lok Sabha elections in 2004 and 2014.

Unfortunate that statement re my participation in a leadership program & certificate thereafter was misconstrued.

— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) August 11, 2014